Improving Health Outcomes

Arkansas Hospitals and The CMS Hospital Quality Improvement Contract

Safe & Reliable Healthcare, LLP

Arkansas Foundations for Medical Care (AFMC)

By Mandy Palmer

TMF Health Quality Institute

Hospital Partners Texas Hospital Association Foundation (THAF)

Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) Carrot Health

Figure 1. TMF HQI Initiative's Technical Expert Panel

Improving hospital quality is a multi-organizational effort in the U.S., with new goal-sets and strategies announced every four years. The latest CMS Hospital Quality Improvement (HQI) initiative builds upon lessons learned and achievements made during previous CMS improvement programs. Carried out by Hospital Improvement Innovation Networks and Hospital Engagement Networks over the past decade and more, earlier programs engaged many Arkansas hospitals, and measurable improvement was the result.

With a keen focus on improving patient safety, quality, and outcomes in rural, critical access, and vulnerable populations, the new four-year strategy was launched last fall.

In September 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services named nine organizations, including TMF Health Quality Institute, as Hospital Quality Improvement

Contractors (HQICs). Under the new contract, the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC), a subcontractor with TMF since 2014, will continue its work in Arkansas on the CMS Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization program.

TMF and AFMC have long provided quality improvement and technical assistance support to hospitals, nursing homes, physicians, and other health care entities. Hospitals can rely on our combined experience and resources to help solve unique health care challenges.

AFMC and the Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) have supported and partnered on many quality improvement projects and efforts over the years. The two organizations hold a vision to serve and support hospitals to create a “one-stop-shop” and “no wrong door policy” to better align and synergize projects, eliminating extra burden, program duplication, and improving health care in Arkansas. Under the new contract, AFMC, as a subcontractor to TMF, and AHA will continue this partnership and will provide direct support in Arkansas for the new HQIC program. (See Figure 1.)

HOSPITAL PARTICIPATION

In alignment with the CMS Rural Health Strategy, TMF focuses on engaging 60 Arkansas rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, and hospitals that serve vulnerable populations and/or have a star rating of two or below. The three goals of the initiative set by CMS include increasing patient safety and quality of care transitions, as well as improving behavioral health outcomes by decreasing opioid misuse. To meet these goals, each hospital will receive: • Customized technical assistance and actionable data to include social determinants of health data, analytics support, and a deep understanding of rural communities and vulnerable populations.

• Access to the national improvement organization Safe & Reliable

Healthcare, a leader in high-reliability transformation. Guidance on the principles of high-reliability organizations is provided, including expertise and proven tools and resources to ensure that our work with small, rural hospitals is transformative, effective, and sustainable. (See Figure 2.) • Membership in a community of practice focused on learning best practices and accessing evidence-based resources and tools. • Collaboration opportunities with stakeholders who are committed to quality improvement. This includes other hospitals, post-acute care providers, state hospital associations, trade associations, and community-based organizations. • Support from an organization with experience in collaborating with and assisting providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are interested in checking your hospital’s eligibility or to participate in the HQIC program, contact Mandy Palmer, 501-5537712, or Pamela Brown, 501-730-5310. For more information on the HQIC program, please visit tmfnetworks.org/Networks/HospitalQuality-Improvement-Initiative.

Figure 2. TMF’s approach to high-reliability assessment is anchored in Safe and Reliable Healthcare’s framework for safe, reliable, and effective care. Reprinted with permission from Safe & Reliable Healthcare.

Mandy Palmer, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, serves as Manager, Outreach Services Quality, for the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care.

HOSPITALS ENROLLED* IN THE NEW HQIC INCLUDE:

• Arkansas Methodist Medical Center • Ashley County Medical Center • Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs • Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia • Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Springs County • Baptist Health Medical Center-Fort Smith • Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock • Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart • Baxter Regional Medical Center • Bradley County Medical Center • Chambers Memorial Hospital • CHI St. Vincent Infirmary • CHI St. Vincent Morrilton • Chicot Memorial Medical Center • CrossRidge Community Hospital • Dardanelle Regional Medical Center • Delta Memorial Hospital • DeWitt Hospital • Drew Memorial Hospital • Five Rivers Medical Center • Forrest City Medical Center • Fulton County Hospital • Great River Medical Center • Izard County Medical Center • Jefferson Regional Medical Center • Johnson Regional Medical Center • Lawrence Memorial Hospital • Little River Memorial Hospital • McGehee Hospital • Mena Regional Health System • Mercy Hospital Booneville • Mercy Hospital Ozark • Mercy Hospital Paris • Mercy Hospital Waldron • North Arkansas Regional Medical Center • NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital • Northwest Health Physicians Specialty Hospital • Northwest Medical Center Springdale • Ouachita County Medical Center • Ozark Community Hospital of Gravette • Piggott Community Hospital • Siloam Springs Regional Hospital • South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center • St. Bernards Medical Center • Stone County Medical Center • UAMS Medical Center • Unity Health-Harris Medical Center • Unity Health-White County Medical Center • Washington Regional Medical Center • White River Medical Center

Three Reasons Why You Were Given Top Three Reasons Why You Were Given Top Three Reasons Why You Were Given Top Priority to Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19Priority to Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19Priority to Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19

11 You are on the front lines and risk being exposed to 1 You are on the front lines and risk being exposed to You are on the front lines and risk being exposed to people with COVID-19 each people with COVID-19 each people with COVID-19 each day on the job. day on the job. day on the job. 22 Protecting you also helps protect your patients and 2 Protecting you also helps protect your patients and Protecting you also helps protect your patients and your family, especially your family, especially your family, especially those who may be at higher those who may be at higher those who may be at higher risk for severe illness from risk for severe illness from risk for severe illness from

COVID-19. COVID-19. COVID-19. 33 You matter. And you play an essential role in keeping 3 You matter. And you play an essential role in keeping You matter. And you play an essential role in keeping your community healthy.your community healthy.your community healthy.

Lead the way!Lead the way!Lead the way! Encourage your coworkers, patients, family Encourage your coworkers, patients, family Encourage your coworkers, patients, family and friends to get vaccinated. and friends to get vaccinated. and friends to get vaccinated.

U.S. Department of U.S. DeU.S. Department of partment of

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccinesHealth and Human Services Centers for Disease www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccinesHealth and Human Services Centers for Disease www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccinesHealth and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Control aControl and Prevention nd Prevention

Vaccinate the Natural State is an initiative to encourage all Arkansans to get their COVID-19 vaccination when it's their time. We’re working in collaboration with multiple business, healthcare and community organizations statewide — including the Arkansas Hospital Association — to educate and engage Arkansans in doing our part to help end the pandemic.

Let's work together to...

Protect caregivers. Protect families. Protect communities.

Whether you are providing vaccinations, getting your workforce vaccinated, or encouraging your family and friends, everyone has a role in helping end the pandemic.

Find out more at www.vaccinatethenaturalstate.com

In partnership with:

In collaboration with:

¡ Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine/

Fort Smith ¡ Arkansas Faith Network ¡ Arkansas Hospital Association ¡ Arkansas Immunization Action Coalition (Immunize Arkansas) ¡ Arkansas Medical Dental Pharmacy Association ¡ Arkansas Pharmacists Association ¡ Association of Federally Qualified Health Centers ¡ Community Health Centers of Arkansas ¡ NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine/Jonesboro

WE BUILD

PLACES OF HEALING

Having completed many projects for the Conway Regional Health System (CRHS) before, we were happy to take on constructing a new 42,500-square-foot, three-story medical office building. This addition to the Conway Regional Health campus will allow CRHS and other medical tenants to expand to meet their patients’ needs.